Brace yourself for a gut punch to freedom: Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old Hong Kong media mogul and pro-democracy advocate, has been convicted on national security charges that could lock him away for life.

This saga unfolded with Lai’s trial concluding early on the day of the report, finding him guilty on all three counts in a case that sparked global outrage over the erosion of press liberties in Hong Kong.

Let’s rewind to 2020, when Lai was first taken into custody, setting off a legal battle that’s been anything but fair in the eyes of many observers.

From Media Empire to Prison Cell

Prosecutors painted Lai as the puppet master of conspiracies, accusing him of urging foreign powers to meddle in Hong Kong and China’s affairs, a charge he’s steadfastly denied.

They also pointed fingers at his now-shuttered newspaper, Apple Daily, claiming its content—161 pieces, including opinion columns and talk shows—stirred unrest against the government under an outdated colonial law.

Not stopping there, the authorities branded Lai as the financial backbone of a protest group pushing for Hong Kong’s freedom, a narrative that smells more like political targeting than justice.

Health Concerns and Courtroom Drama

Fast forward to the verdict day, and Lai, noticeably thinner, sat impassively in a light green cardigan and grey jacket, nodding to his family as he exited the courtroom, per an AFP reporter’s account.

His daughter, Claire Lai, has raised alarms over his declining health—weight loss, nail, and tooth decay—while authorities insist he’s in solitary confinement by choice and receiving proper care.

National security police chief superintendent Steve Li brushed off these concerns as mere “smears,” but one wonders if a diabetic elderly man’s well-being is truly a priority in this system.

International Outcry and Trump’s Plea

US President Donald Trump stepped into the fray, personally asking Chinese President Xi Jinping to consider freeing Lai, showing a rare moment of diplomatic outreach on a human rights issue.

“I feel so bad. I spoke to President Xi about it, and I asked him to consider his release,” Trump stated, highlighting Lai’s age and frail condition as reasons for concern.

“He’s an older man, and he’s not well. So I did put that request out. We’ll see what happens,” Trump added, leaving the outcome hanging like a cliffhanger in a gritty drama.

Global Condemnation Meets Beijing’s Defiance

The backlash was swift—rights groups called this conviction a death blow to press freedoms, while the UK labeled the prosecution “politically motivated” and demanded Lai’s release.

The EU didn’t mince words either, declaring the verdict a symbol of democracy’s collapse in Hong Kong since Beijing’s National Security Law clamped down after the 2019 protests.

Beijing, predictably, fired back, decrying international criticism as “smearing” Hong Kong’s judicial system, while their local offices dubbed Lai a “pawn” for anti-China forces—a classic deflection from a regime allergic to accountability.